Sochi 2014: Opening Ceremony

Russia's Olympic Legends Light the Cauldron

Irina Rodnina and Vladislav Tretyak light the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia on Friday, Feb. 7, 2014.

Image: Matt Slocum, Pool/Associated Press

President Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin, second from right, and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, centre, wave as they stand alongside United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, third from left, during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Image: Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

The Soundtrack of the Russian Flag

An artist performs after the Olympic flag is hoisted during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Feb. 7, 2014.

Image: David Phillip/Associated Press

Light Show at the Opening Ceremony

Artists wearing lights perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Image: Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Flying Child

The flying Russian child returns to the opening ceremony. The act was repeated twice during the show on Feb. 7, 2014 in Sochi.

Image: Vadim Ghirda/Associated Press

Russian Ballet Dancers

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Opening Ceremony Performance

Mascots, Mascots and More Mascots

The Olympic mascots are seen during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia on Friday, Feb. 7, 2014.

Image: David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Team Russia

The Russian Olympic team walks into the stadium during the Parade of Nations on Feb. 7, 2014 at the opening ceremony.

Team Japan

The Japanese Olympic team walks into the stadium during the Parade of Nations on Feb. 7, 2014 at the opening ceremony.

Iran's Olympic Team

The Iranian Olympic team walks into the stadium during the Parade of Nations on Feb. 7, 2014 at the opening ceremony.

Canadian Team

Team Canada walks into the stadium during the Parade of Nations on Feb. 7, 2014 at the opening ceremony.

Team China

The Chinese Olympic team walks into the stadium during the Parade of Nations on Feb. 7, 2014 at the opening ceremony.

Team USA

Athletes from the United States wave to spectators as they arrive during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics

Brazil's Olympians

The Brazilian Olympic team walks into the stadium during the Parade of Nations on Feb. 7, 2014 at the opening ceremony.

Team Australia

Alex Pullin of Australia, front right, carries that national flag as he leads his team during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Image: Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Snow Queen

Panagiota Tsakiri of Greece holds her national flag and leads her team into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Team Germany

Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany carries the national flag as she leads the team during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Fans

A Russian child yawns while others wave the national flag as the national anthem is being played during the live telecast of the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

Russia Waves Its Flag

The flag of Russia is raised during the opening ceremony on Feb. 7, 2014 in Sochi.

Image: Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Flying Russian child

A Russian child flies through the arena during a performance for the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Olympic Ring Fail

The fifth olympic rings fails to opening during the opening ceremony at the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russa.

Bird's-Eye View

An shot of the opening ceremony from high above.

Image: David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Fans Arrive

Fans make their way to Fisht Stadium for the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia on Friday, Feb. 7, 2014.

Image: Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Olympic Village

The sun sets over the Olympic Park before the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia on Friday, Feb. 7, 2014.

Image: Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Here Come the People!

Spectators arrive at the Fisht Olympic Stadium prior to the start of the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Image: Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Starts With a Boom

A fireworks display kicked off the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Image: Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Jellyfish Dancers

Actors wearing LED lights perform during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Image: David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Prime Seats

Spectators wave the Russian flag during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Image: Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

"Our games will be cool," assured Dmitry Chernyshenko, president of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, during his speech at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony Friday.

The festivities, which NBC will broadcast stateside at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday, opened with the Parade of Nations, where athletes from 88 national delegations introduced themselves by walking into Fisht Olympic Stadium while wielding their countries' flags. The three-hour ceremony continued with a glimpse at Russian history (watch NBC's sneak peeks, below).

The night ended with hockey legend Vladislav Tretiak and figure skater Irina Rodnina lighting the Olympic Cauldron. They were the final torchbearers on the months-long torch relay, which included sending the torch to space and even underwater.

Altogether, more than 3,000 people from artistic groups participated in dance, ballet, acrobatic and circus performances. They wore 6,000 costumes. Meanwhile, 2,000 volunteers helped onstage, backstage and at Olympic Park to make the show happen.

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